I am rebuilding my business that I have had since 2000 - am in the candle & bath products - I have several questions - I would like to put out some letters to B & B's and Real Estate agents but I have no clue how to go about this...and the other is how to approach high school for fund raisers as well.....any suggestions - thanks

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I think the initial approach you mentioned is a good step... and shouldn't be too hard.

For BB's - look in the phone book or do a search for B&B's in the local area. Once you have some phone numbers, simply call them up and explain to them that you supply candle and bath products and that you would like to supply them with some free to try as well as put into the rooms. If you are trying to become a supplier to the B&B, then explain that as well as why they should consider you. If you are wanting to use the B&B as a tool to find other customers (the guests) then explain that.

For real estate agents... I think you'd want to first write a 1 page "letter" explaining how it's great for agents to offer buyers / sellers a gift at closing and how you can supply the agent with either free gift baskets or at least very cheap. In this case, you would be first looking to get the agent's clients as future clients and using the agent as a marketing tool.

You'd have a similar approach to fund raisers... they are looking for free stuff to put up for sale / auction... the return to you is the potential future customers that get to see your stuff on display. In this case, call the main number to the campus (not the district) and explain to the person that answers that you are a local business that would like to donate gift baskets to the next fundraiser. Ask them when that would be and make a point to call back or stop by when the next one gets under way. As a reminder, stop by and drop off a free basket at the front office. It doesn't matter who ends up keeping it... since the goal will be for them to remember to call you when the next fundraiser takes place. If you aren't sure about that process, start asking the neighbors with kids (assuming you don't have any in school) when the next fundraiser is and offer to supply a gift basket. Sometimes the kids need to put something together... maybe for a sports team.

The basic first step is to start talking to people... even if you don't have a letter... just get on the phone or go by and say hello. Be curteous of their time and to the point and at minimum, have a card or flyer that they can keep.




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